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Hands-on Museum Exhibitions for Kids

Adeliza Perez-Johnson

,

Concierge, Four Seasons Hotel New York

Adeliza Perez-Johnson

Concierge, Four Seasons Hotel New York

57 E. 57th St.

212.758.5700

There’s no shortage of world-class museums in NYC, offering everything from renowned art collections to thought-provoking cultural exhibitions and displays of historical significance. But, when it comes to traveling with the kids in tow, “look but don’t touch” really isn’t an option. Adeliza Perez-Johnson, Concierge at Four Seasons Hotel New York, shares her top hands-on museum exhibitions for kids. “Children thrive on multi sensorial experiences,” Perez-Johnson says. “Whenever my son Reagan and I have a day together, we like to explore the many hands-on and interactive activities NYC’s numerous venues have to offer.” A must-visit destination on Perez-Johnson’s list is the Discovery Room at the American Museum of Natural History. This permanent exhibition, which is great for kids ages five to 12, affords museum visitors the interactive opportunity to learn more about all the institution has to offer—from anthropology to zoology, including in-depth exploration of minerals under a microscope, assembling a life-size, pre-historic skeleton and more. “During our last visit, we even held a Madagascar screaming cockroach, which was awesome,” Perez-Johnson exclaims. Access to a 40-minute session in the Discovery Room is included with museum admission. Perez-Johnson advises visitors to sign in upon arrival at the museum, as availability fills up quickly. She calls The Museum of Modern Art’s MoMA Art Lab: Movement “another hidden gem.” The Movement Lab, part of the museum’s continuing series, which has also featured Shape, Line and Color labs, allows visitors to go beyond simply viewing works of art and lets them engage with modern and contemporary art in an interactive way. “The Movement Lab will be sure to inspire our little engineers and artists alike,” Perez-Johnson says. “With multiple medium activities, children can explore balance and counter balance, as well as create their own stop-motion animation.” A great museum for kids to explore is the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, a military and maritime history museum with an extensive collection of aircraft carriers and jets, as well as the Enterprise space shuttle and the Cold War-era USS Growler submarine. “Every time my family visits, we must view both the SR 71 Blackbird reconnaissance jet—my son’s favorite, as well as the Concord passenger jet,” Perez-Johnson says. “Each aircraft has its own fascinating story, which is sure to entice their imagination.” While there, visitors can also experience several simulators—including the thrill of flying a supersonic jet plane—as well as a 4D Motion Ride Movie. Lastly, Perez-Johnson applauds the Children’s Museum of Manhattan for its many hands-on exhibits. “The Adventures with Dora and Diego exhibit and the Playworks™ area were my son’s favorite when he was younger,” she says. “Now his favorite is the Clay Lab, which inspires him to try new plasticine projects at home.”